How to Fix iTunes Error 3194 on a Mac – This device isn’t eligible for the requested build

This video will show you how to Fix iTunes Error 3194 on a Mac – This device isn’t eligible for the requested build.

Hi All
Earlier I created a video on how to Fix iTunes Error 3194 while using Windows. This video will show you how to fix the same error on a Mac.
You will need to open up Terminal in Finder and type the following command.
sudo nano /private/etc/hosts

Press Return and Enter your password.
Once you have typed your admin password you will see all the entry’s in the hosts file.

Mac Terminal Hosts file

Now Apple says, look for an entry containing “gs.apple.com”.
The next step I delete any entry back to the local file which essentially sets the hosts file back to defaults.
However Apple says, Add the # symbol and a space (“# “) to the beginning of the gs.apple.com entry.

You can save the file by pressing Control-O. Hit Enter when prompted for the filename and Control-X which will allow you to exit the editor.
Restart your Mac and you should be good to go.

Good luck guys.

30 thoughts on “How to Fix iTunes Error 3194 on a Mac – This device isn’t eligible for the requested build

  1. Hello ……..123myit team.

    I have an problem with restoring my iPhone 4 iOS 7.1 Beta 5 – iOS 7.1 Beta 3.

    So i have downloaded my ipsw on my desktop.
    I still have the problem this device isn’t eligible for the requested build error 3194. I have seen your video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz56bCvKEVo but is doesn’t work because i don’t have any line in my hosts file with gs.apple.com.

    Please help me.

    Thanks for you support.

  2. Matt first of all thank you for your time and help, I unfortunately have followed these steps and tried a restore from my ipsw 7.0.4 on my iphone 5, which it was on prior to this boot loop error. i continue to get this error regarding eligibility of build regardless. I have tried tiny umbrella and the such to no evail as well. Any other ideas? your help is greatly appreciated.

      • Matt,
        thank you for the quick reply, greatly appreciated.
        I have my phone stuck in a reboot loop, with the apple logo. It was on iphone 5 ios7.0.4 prior via OTA update and want to keep the ios 7.0.4. The only way i can think to get it out of this loop is a restore. I do not want to upgrade to ios 7.1
        Thank you again for your time as it is greatly appreciated.
        Bryan

  3. hi i bought iPhone 5s from my friend he forgot the apple store password and is email password to recover the password so i upgraded ios from 8 to 8.1.1 to setup from beginning because when i want to reset the iPhone was asking password after upgrading the iPhone i have same problem i got same email id is there and cannot change it i try to downgrade but i am getting error 3149 removing in the hosts gc.apple ip also same problem i am using windows 7 not mac my itune ver is 12.0.1.26

  4. Hi Matt

    I have a problem which you may be able to help me with…..

    I had to upgrade my jail broken iPhone 5 to 8.1.2 because the 8.1.1 ipsw file I downloaded was giving me the ‘this device isn’t eligible for the requested build’ error.

    I downloaded both the 5,1 and the 5,2 versions and they both did not work.

    The 5,1 said strait away ‘the device isn’t eligible….’ Strait away…. But the 5,2 looked like it was working. It was extracting and preparing until I got the dreaded error.

    Also I’ve done the whole # space thing on the hosts file to, before I upgraded to 8.1.2 but nothing worked and Im lost

    I’m currently on 8.1.2 but I want to be on 8 or 8.1.1

    Any help would be amazing thank you

    Jay

  5. Hey dood im iOS 7 and i use an old Mac 0.10.7 and when i do sudo nano thingy it doesnt give me the gs.apple.com! No 3 lines its only the local hosts and stuff but no gs.apple.com! I wanted to UPDATE to ios 8.2 since theres a jailbreak for it iOS 8.3 doesn have jailbreak yet but when i restore and update my iPhone with the file iOS 8.2.ipsw it says This device is not engristed… Error 3194! Please email me since i really forget about all of this so email me and reply thank you! 🙂

    • Hi Kyle
      You may have missed the boat on this one. You wont be able to upgrade to iOS 8.2. Apple only allows you to upgrade to the latest iOS this being. 8.3.
      Cheers
      Matt

  6. Hello,
    I need help with my iPhone 5, I upgraded to 8.4, now I can’t make phone calls, so to fix it, I tried to downgrade to 8.3, but I get the error message “this phone is not eligible for this build” I tried everything, but I keep getting the same message.

  7. Hi Matt. Thanks for your guidance. Unfortunately, I have really weird problem. I do all above things such as host file, updating itunes to 12.3, changing USB port, etc. but, I try to restore ipad air 2 to 8.4.1 and ipad 3 to 8.4 but same problem. I also use VPN to connect to another country’s server to connect to Apple servers. I am pretty sure that I have the right ipsw file and also dont want to downgrade any of them.

  8. Hi Matt!
    I was upgrading my nephew’s iPhone 4,which was running system 4.3.2,unfortunately it stalled at the verification stage displaying”the device isn’t eligible for the requested build”.I have tried all your recommendations from the video.I am stuck and wondering whether its apple servers which aren’t signing in old devices.Please help,even if its returning it back to 4.3.2.
    Thanks
    Kind Regards
    keith.

      • Thanks Matt!
        I have used different firmwares,The specific one being iPhone3,2_7.1.2_11D257_Restore.ipsw (iPhone 4 (8GB)).I have even tried directly from Apple Server,it almost finishes verifying till it gives “the device isn’t eligible for the requested build”.Could it be Apple Side or a Hardware issue.If so is it eligible for replacement by Apple.
        Best Regards
        keith.

  9. Hello I have an problem with restoring my iPhone 5s iOS 9.1 Beta 5 – iOS 9.1 Beta 3.

    So i have downloaded my ipsw on my desktop.
    I still have the problem this device isn’t eligible for the requested build error 3194. I have seen your video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz56bCvKEVo but is doesn’t work because i don’t have any line in my hosts file with gs.apple.com.

  10. My Ipad 2 is stuck on a reboot loop and it won’t let me restore it. I’ve already fixed the host file and its still not working. Could you please help me?

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